Anton Vanke glanced at Old Stark, opened his mouth, and was speechless.
Dufresne said: "In Mr. Vanke's opinion, our device was only worth zero dollars, so he decided to let the gang rob it directly from him."
"Just last night, we were attacked by more than 20 gun-wielding thugs on our way back to the hotel. Fortunately, Xinqilub and I were pretty good at catching these gangsters. I'm right, Algio.
M. Ivanov?”
Ivanov's face was pale, his mouth twitched, and he couldn't say a complete sentence: "Yes, that's it."
A rare expression of anger rose on Old Stark's face. He looked directly at Anton Vanke and asked, "Didn't I already say it? Why are you still doing this?"
Anton Vanke argued: "I'm sorry Stark... but they just want to blackmail us. We can't let them succeed. I do this entirely for the company!"
Old Stark knocked on the table and raised his voice: "But now you have brought the company to the brink of danger! Once this matter spreads, Stark Industries' reputation will be on par with gangsters, the interests of the company, and the interests of shareholders
Have you really thought about it?"
"I'm sorry, Stark, I'm really sorry..." Anton Vanke also messed up and had no reason to explain, so he could only keep apologizing to the old Stark, "I will bear all responsibilities and will not be involved.
company."
"How can you not be implicated! Anton Vanke, I thought you would be as rigorous in doing things as you were in experiments, but you turned out to be a...reckless bastard!" Old Stark was obviously trying to suppress his anger as much as possible.
.
Anton Vanke lowered his head and remained silent.
Old Stark took a deep breath for a moment, and then shouted: "Jarvis!"
Soon a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a slightly submissive temperament came in from the door: "Mr. Stark."
"Lock up these three people and don't let anyone else know."
"OK."
Jarvis responded, and then led Ivanov and the three gangsters out of the room. Dufresne didn't say anything, watched them leave and closed the door.
Old Stark sat down, took a deep breath, and said in a heavy voice: "I'm very sorry that this happened, Dr. Dufresne. However, you should not let other people, such as the police or the media, know about this.
Just something."
Dufresne: "Of course, I know this does not represent Stark Industries. Stark Industries is still the company I respect the most."
Old Stark nodded, then had nothing to say for a while, and the room fell into a long silence.
After a while, he spoke again: "So, Dr. Dufresne, you are still willing to sell the device to us, is that right?"
"Yes, the price will not change, one hundred million US dollars in cash and 20% of Stark Industries' stock." Dufresne took out the Shia Empire energy stone from his briefcase and put it on the table.
After hearing this, Anton Vanke couldn't help but say: "This is naked blackmail!"
"Stop talking, Vanke." Old Stark said solemnly.
Dufresne added at this time: "I am very optimistic about the future of Stark Industries, so I can guarantee that I will hold these stocks for the long term, at least until the next century."
Old Stark looked at the energy stone on the table and nodded after a moment: "Okay, I promise you."
Once Anton Vanke's matter is revealed, no matter how it is handled, Stark Industries will plummet. As the founder of the company, Old Stark certainly does not want to see such a result.
Now the only way to avoid this outcome is to exchange $100 million in cash and 20% of the stock for energy stones according to Dufresne's offer.
As a result, Dufresne became one of the largest shareholders of Stark Industries. He also promised to hold these stocks for a long time, and his interests were consistent with Stark Industries. Naturally, he tacitly agreed not to expose this matter.
This was Old Stark's only choice at the moment, and it didn't seem too bad. Although he paid a high price, he still gained energy stones.
So after a brief thought, he agreed to Dufresne's offer.
Dufresne couldn't help but smile and stretched out his hand to shake Old Stark's hand: "Happy cooperation, Mr. Stark."
"It's a pleasure to cooperate." Old Stark also smiled reluctantly.
Then the two sides discussed some details. About an hour later, Dufresne and Xinchlubb left Stark Industries, leaving only Anton Vanke and Old Stark in the room.
"I'm sorry, Stark..." Anton Vanke lowered his head and said in the quiet air.
Although he hasn't been here for a long time, he still has feelings for Stark Industries and Howard himself, and this result really makes him feel guilty.
Old Stark put his hands in his pockets, stood in front of the window and let out a long breath: "I hope this device can bring us enough profits."
"I will try my best." Anton Vanke said, this is probably the only way he can atone for his sins. "No matter what, I will definitely complete the Ark reactor plan in five years at most! Believe me, Stark."
…
Antarctica, Hearth Valley.
Luo Wei exited the training space and reflected on the battle just now, when a knock on the door came from outside.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Dufresne and Xinchilub, dressed in suits and leather shoes, walked in: "The Great Lord."
"How are you guys back? Have you sold the energy stone to Howard Stark?" Rowe asked with a smile.
"Yes, this is the agreement we signed with Stark Industries. You can take a look." Dufresne took out an agreement.
Luo Wei took the agreement and glanced at it a few times, feeling a little surprised: "One hundred million US dollars, and 20% of Stark Industries' stock?"
"What do you think of the price?" Dufresne asked.
Of course, Luo Wei nodded in praise: "You are truly a merchant knight, Dufresne. I originally thought it would be good if you could sell 100 million US dollars."
In fact, he didn't know how much the thing could be sold for, but getting Stark Industries to give up one-fifth of its own shares was obviously not something that could be done casually.
Dufresne asked: "Great Lord, how shall we arrange these money and stocks?"
"what you think?"
Dufresne said without hesitation: "We can register an investment company in the secular world, and the company will hold the shares of Stark Industries for a long time and use the US$100 million as investment."
"Okay, I'll do as you say. From now on, you will be responsible for the secular business affairs of the Knights." Luo Wei nodded, and then thought of something, "By the way, have you thought of the name of the investment company?"
"not yet."
Luo Wei thought for a while: "Well... let's call it "Golden Hand"."
After all, the Knights of the Silver Hand are a non-secular organization that focuses on cultivation and combat. It is obviously not appropriate to directly name it the Silver Hand, but if you name it for something you don't want to do at all, it cannot reflect the connection with the Knights.
So he finally chose the name "Golden Hand", which was at least very suitable for the occasion and also a good match.
Golden Hands... Luo Wei nodded secretly, unable to help but feel satisfied with his excellent aesthetic level.
